Vehicle accessory with sliding cover

ABSTRACT

An armrest storage compartment includes a hinged cover assembly including a base hinged to the storage compartment and a cover slidably mounted to the base by a slide assembly. The slide assembly, in one embodiment, includes a U-shaped rod which is secured to the base and a pair of sleeves mounted to the cover with a polymeric slide material extending between the rod and sleeves to allow the cover to slide forwardly and aft with respect to the base. In a preferred embodiment, the base, when uncovered by moving the cover forwardly, includes a storage tray, cup holder or other accessory, which is stacked above the storage compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle accessory with asliding cover and particularly an armrest with a storage compartmenthaving a hinged cover assembly having a base and a slidably mountedcover.

[0002] Vehicle interior components are increasingly includingconvenience items for the vehicle operator and passengers. Centerconsoles located between seats is a typical accessory with may include astorage compartment having a hinged cover also forming an armrest at thetop of the console. In the past, the armrest covers could be raised on ahinge mechanism to expose a storage compartment. Some armrests can beslidably moved to a variety of adjusted positions for comfortablylocating the armrest for supporting the passenger's and/or operator'sforearm. The following patents disclose adjustable armrests or armrestswith various storage compartments: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,598,948, 4,818,017,5,076,641, Re. 34,333, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,433,509, 5,562,331, and5,810,434.

[0003] A difficulty with some adjustable armrests or consoles withadjustable armrests is that the mounting mechanism can be very complexand, therefore, expensive to manufacture and prone to failure duringuse. As a result, there exists a need for an assembly for a vehicleinterior component which includes a sliding, hinged cover for gainingaccess to a storage compartment and preferably one which also defines anarmrest which can be adjusted to a variety of positions for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The system of the present invention provides these features in aneconomical and reliable system in which a storage compartment includes ahinged cover assembly with the assembly including a base hinged to thestorage compartment and a cover slidably mounted to the base by a slideassembly. The slide assembly, in one embodiment, includes a U-shaped rodwhich is secured to the base and a pair of sleeves mounted to the coverwith a polymeric slide material extending between the rod and sleeves toallow the cover to slide with respect to the base. The cover assemblycan be pivoted open to gain access to the storage compartment. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the cover defines an armrest andthe base, when uncovered by moving the cover forwardly, includes astorage tray, cup holder or other accessory, which is stacked above thestorage compartment to provide vertically stacked storage areas. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the polymeric slide is integrallymolded between the rod and sleeves to provide the sliding interfacebetween them. Such an assembly is relatively inexpensive to manufacture,durable, and reliable to provide the desired functional features for asliding armrest cover.

[0005] These and other features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon reading the following descriptionthereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, shown partly in phantomform, of a vehicle with a console and armrest assembly embodying thepresent invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the console shown inFIG. 1, shown with the armrest cover assembly in an open position foraccess to a storage compartment therebelow;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the console shown inFIG. 1, showing the armrest cover assembly in a closed position with itscover moved to a forwardly adjusted position;

[0009]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cover assembly;

[0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the slide assemblyemployed in the cover assembly;

[0011]FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cover assemblytaken along section line VI-VI in FIG. 1; and

[0012]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the detentmechanism employed for allowing the cover to be detentably adjusted withrespect to the base of the cover assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a vehicle 10, suchas an automobile, van, sport utility vehicle, or truck, which includes afloor console 20 mounted to the floor 12 of the vehicle between seats(not shown), such as the driver's and front passenger's seats, althoughit could be located elsewhere in a vehicle. Console 20 includes a body22 defining therein a storage compartment 28 (FIG. 2) having sidewalls21, a rear wall 24, and a curved forward wall 23 which may integrallyinclude a cup holder 25. The body 22 may also include a rear cup holder26 for rear seat passengers. The storage compartment 28 is covered by ahinged cover assembly 30 embodying the present invention.

[0014] Assembly 30 includes a base 40 (as best seen in FIG. 4), a cover60 and a slide assembly 80 which slidably couples the cover 60 to base40. Base 40, in turn, is pivotally mounted to console 20 to pivot from aclosed position (as shown in FIG. 1) to a pivoted open position (asshown in FIG. 2). Additionally, cover 60 can be moved forwardly to oneof numerous adjusted positions, as seen in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 2,with cover assembly 30 in an open position, storage compartment 28 canbe accessed by the vehicle operator or passenger. A latch 48 (FIGS. 4and 7) on base 40 engages a latch catch 29 on the forward inside edge ofwall 23 (FIG. 2) in a conventional manner. An explanation of theconstruction of cover assembly 30, including base 40, cover 60, andslide 80, is best understood by initially discussing the construction ofslide assembly 80 with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

[0015] Slide assembly 80 comprises a generally U-shaped solid steel rod82 having a first elongated leg 81, a second elongated leg 83, and anintegral base leg 84. Attached to the base leg is a pair of torquefittings 85 and 86 having tangs 87 with apertures 88 for mounting thetorque fittings and, therefore, slide assembly 80 to the top of rearwall 24 of body 22, as seen in FIG. 2. Torque fittings 85 and 86 definea hinge for coupling the cover assembly 30 to body 22. Each fitting 85and 86 has an inner surface which is coated with tetrafluoroethylene tocontrol the rotation of base leg 84 and, therefore, the pivot opening ofcover assembly 30 with respect to console body 22. Fittings 85 and 86can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,197, the disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference. The slide assembly 80further includes a pair of sleeves 92 and 94 which can be extrudedaluminum members having a generally C-shaped cross section, each with anopen bottom slot 91 and 93, respectively, and an interior cross sectionwhich corresponds to that of polymeric intermediate slides 95 and 97 onrod legs 81 and 83 to provide a sliding interface between sleeves 92 and94 and U-shaped rod 82 via the polymeric cylindrical slides 95 and 97.Slides 95 and 97 can be of any suitable lubricious polymeric material,such as a silicone-filled acetal such as CELCON®. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the slides 95 and 97 are integrally moldedin place between sleeves 92 and 94 and U-shaped rod 82 by a processdescribed in connection with U.S. patent application entitled EXTRUDEDVISOR CONTROL, filed on Feb. 26, 1998, Ser. No. 09/031,405, now U.S.Pat. No. ______, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

[0016] The slide assembly 80, once molded, is secured to both the cover60 and base 40 by inserting the sleeves 92 and 94 through openings 62and 64 in end wall 61 of the integrally molded polymeric cover 60 andthrough semicylindrical guide bosses 63 and 65 spaced along the surface67 of cover 60, as best seen in FIG. 4. The trailing edges 96 of each ofthe sleeves 92 and 94 are lockably held within the bosses of cover 60 bysnap-locking tangs 66, which engage the edges 96 of the sleeves 92 and94 to lockably hold the sleeves in fixed position with respect to cover60. The legs 81 and 83 of rod 82 are secured to base 40 withinsemicylindrical troughs 42 and 44 by means of fastening screws 45, whichextend through apertures 47 in troughs 42 and 44 in the base 40, as bestseen in FIG. 6. Fasteners 45 extend through slots 91 and 93 of sleeves92 and 94, respectively, thereby allowing cover 60, which is lockablymounted to the sleeves, to slide along legs 81 and 83 with fasteners 45securing rod 82 to base 40 and clearing the sleeves 92, 94 during suchmotion.

[0017] Cover 60 defines an armrest in a preferred embodiment andincludes, as seen in FIGS. 1-3 and 6, a foam polymeric padded section 70with a suitable flexible covering upholstery material 72, which can beleather, fabric, vinyl or the like, which extends around the outerperipheral edges 68 of cover 60 and is tucked into locking engagement ina peripheral trough 69 therewith by means of a locking ring 74, as bestseen in FIG. 6. Base 40 and the body of cover 60 are each integrallymolded of a suitable polymeric material such as polycarbonate,thermoplastic resin, or the like, typically used in the automotiveenvironment for interior components.

[0018] With base 40 secured to rod 82, which is pivotally mounted to theconsole wall 24, the entire cover assembly, including base 40 andslidable cover 60, can be pivoted to a raised open position exposingstorage compartment 28, as shown in FIG. 2, by disengaging latch 48 fromcatch 29 (FIG. 2). The cover 60 can also be slid with respect to base40, as seen in FIG. 3, to multiple detented positions by the detentmechanism shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

[0019] The detent mechanism includes a leaf spring 100 having a base 102which is secured to surface 41 on base 40 by suitable attachment means,such as by rivets or the like. Leaf spring 100 includes a rollerfollower 104 at an opposite end which extends upwardly into engagementwith a rib 76 integral with cover 60 and having a plurality of spacednotches 78 extending downwardly from the center area of cover floor 67,as best seen in FIG. 7. As cover 60 is moved with respect to base 40 byslide 80, follower 104 selectively detents into notches 78 to releasablyhold the cover in an adjusted position, such as shown in FIG. 3. As seenin FIG. 7, the cover 60 includes a downwardly extending wall 71 whichdefines a stop preventing the cover 60 from being withdrawn from theslide assembly 80 by engaging the edge 105 of leaf spring 100. Thisprevents removal of the cover from slide assembly 80, which is securedto the base 40.

[0020] The top surface 43 of base 40 may include a recessed cup holder50 and a storage tray 52, such that when cover 60 is moved to a forwardposition, as seen in FIG. 3, the base, which remains over storagecompartment 28, provides access to additional vertically stacked storageareas or features which supplement the main storage compartment 28associated with console 20.

[0021] Thus, with the cover assembly of the present invention,additional storage is provided as well as the flexibility of providingan adjustable armrest for use in providing access to a console storagecompartment. The structure is relatively inexpensive to manufacture andprovides a solid, reliable structure which can withstand the rigors ofthe automotive interior environment.

[0022] It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as describedherein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A console comprising: a body having acentral opening defining a storage compartment; and a cover assemblymounted to said body, said cover assembly including a base, a hingeextending between said base and said body, and a cover slidably mountedto said base, said cover assembly further including a slide assemblydefined by at least one rod secured to said base, at least one sleevecoupled to said cover, and a polymeric slide extending between said rodand said sleeve.
 2. The console as defined in claim 1 wherein said coverassembly includes a pair of spaced rods and a pair of spaced sleevesaligned to receive said rods.
 3. The console as defined in claim 2wherein said spaced rods are legs of a generally U-shaped member havinga base leg.
 4. The console as defined in claim 3 wherein said hingecomprises a torque fitting coupled to said base leg and to said body forpivotally mounting said cover assembly to said body.
 5. The console asdefined in claim 4 and further including detent structure extendingbetween said cover and said base to selectively hold said cover in atleast one position displaced from said base.
 6. The console as definedin claim 5 wherein said detent structure comprises a rib extending fromsaid cover toward said base and having a plurality of notches thereinand a spring-loaded follower mounted to said base and extending intoengagement with said rib.
 7. An armrest comprising: a support; and acover assembly mounted to said support, said cover assembly including abase, a cover, and a slide assembly slidably coupling said cover to saidbase, said slide assembly defined by a pair of spaced rods secured toone of said base and said cover, and a pair of sleeves coupled to theother of said cover and base, and polymeric slides extending betweensaid rods and said sleeves.
 8. The armrest as defined in claim 7 whereinsaid base includes at least one of a cup holder and a storage bin formedtherein which are exposed for use when said cover is slidably moved froma position aligned with said base to a position displaced from saidaligned position.
 9. The armrest as defined in claim 8 and furtherincluding detent structure extending between said cover and said base toselectively hold said cover in at least one position displaced from saidbase.
 10. The armrest as defined in claim 9 wherein said detentstructure comprises a rib extending from said cover toward said base andhaving a plurality of notches therein and a spring-loaded followermounted to said base and extending into engagement with said rib. 11.The armrest as defined in claim 10 and further including a hingecoupling said cover assembly to said support.
 12. The armrest as definedin claim 11 wherein said spaced rods are legs of a generally U-shapedmember having a base leg.
 13. The armrest as defined in claim 12 whereinsaid hinge comprises a torque fitting coupled to said base leg and tosaid support for pivotally mounting said cover assembly to said support.14. The armrest as defined in claim 13 wherein said support includes astorage compartment selectively covered by said cover.
 15. A vehicleconsole comprising: a body having a central opening defining a storagecompartment; and a cover assembly mounted to said body, said coverassembly including a base and a hinge extending between said base andsaid body, said cover assembly further including a cover and a slideassembly slidably coupling said cover to said base.
 16. The console asdefined in claim 15 wherein said slide assembly is defined by at leastone rod secured to said base, at least one sleeve coupled to said cover,and a polymeric slide extending between said rod and said sleeve. 17.The console as defined in claim 16 wherein said cover assembly includesa pair of spaced rods and a pair of spaced sleeves aligned to receivesaid rods.
 18. The console as defined in claim 17 wherein said spacedrods are legs of a generally U-shaped member having a base leg.
 19. Theconsole as defined in claim 18 wherein said hinge comprises a torquefitting coupled to said base leg and to said body for pivotally mountingsaid cover assembly to said body.
 20. The console as defined in claim 19and further including detent structure extending between said cover andsaid base to selectively hold said cover in at least one positiondisplaced from said base.
 21. The console as defined in claim 20 whereinsaid detent structure comprises a rib extending from said cover towardsaid base and having a plurality of notches therein and a spring-loadedfollower mounted to said base and extending into engagement with saidrib.
 22. The console as defined in claim 15 wherein said base includesat least one of a cup holder and storage bin formed therein which areexposed for use when said cover is slidably moved from a positionaligned with said base to a position displaced from said alignedposition.
 23. A vehicle accessory comprising: a support for attachmentto a vehicle; a hinged cover assembly mounted to said support, saidhinged cover assembly including a base, a cover, and a slide slidablymounting said cover to said base, wherein said base includes at leastone of a cup holder and storage bin formed therein which are exposed foruse when said cover is slidably moved from a position aligned with saidbase to a position displaced from said aligned position.
 24. Theaccessory as defined in claim 23 wherein said cover defines an armrest.25. A vehicle armrest comprising: a support for attachment to a vehicle,said support having a storage compartment; and a cover assembly hingedlymounted to said support for selectively gaining access to said storagecompartment, said cover assembly including a base, a cover, and a slideassembly slidably coupling said cover to said base, said slide assemblydefined by a pair of spaced rods secured to one of said base and saidcover, and a pair of sleeves coupled to the other of said cover andbase, and polymeric slides extending between said rods and said sleeves,wherein said base includes at least one of a cup holder and a storagebin formed therein which are exposed for use when said cover is slidablymoved from a position aligned with said base to a position displacedfrom said aligned position, and further including detent structureextending between said cover and said base to selectively hold saidcover in at least one position displaced from said base.
 26. The armrestas defined in claim 25 and further including a hinge coupling said coverassembly to said support.
 27. The armrest as defined in claim 26 whereinsaid spaced rods are legs of a generally U-shaped member having a baseleg.
 28. The armrest as defined in claim 27 wherein said hinge comprisesa torque fitting coupled to said base leg and to said support forpivotally mounting said cover assembly to said support.